Villagers in Madhupur, north east India have brutally flogged five
women alleged to be witches after tying them to a tree. The sad incident
took place in front of the entire villagers.

In a barbaric act of mob justice the women are believed to have
been accused of practising witchcraft, but no details or evidence of
their alleged crimes have been produced. They were made to stand in the
middle of the village and a rope was wrapped around all five women as
they stood with their backs against a small tree.

Stood in traditional dress, the women's faces are then filmed as
they await their fate. The police were not made aware of the incident
until they were shown the video footage.

One of the women also made a written complaint, begging officers to investigate.